the gravity and constancy of his demeanour, and they marvelled why such diligence was used to take an aged man like this. He immediately offered to them refreshment, and requested permission from them to pray in freedom for one hour; which being granted, he arose and prayed, being so full of the grace of God, that those who were present, and heard him pray, were amazed, and many of them repented that they had taken so venerable and holy a man.

"When he had ceased his prayer, in which he made mention of all whom he had ever known, whether small or great, eminent or obscure, and of all the Catholic Church throughout the world; the hour of departure being come, he was placed on an ass, and brought into the city, that being the great Sabbath. Here the irenarch Herod, and his father Nicetas, met him, who placed him in their chariot ; and seated beside him, persuaded him, saying, 'What is the harm to say, Lord Cæsar, and to sacrifice, and so to save your life?' And he at first answered them not; but when they continued, he said, 'I will not do what you counsel me.' Then having failed to persuade him, they uttered reproaches, and threw him violently down, so that in falling from the chariot he hurt his thigh-bone. Unmoved, and as if he had not thus suffered, he went with alacrity and speed to the amphitheatre, whither he was led. And when the tumult there was so great that few could hear, a voice from heaven came to Polycarp, as he entered the amphitheatre, 'Be strong, and quit thee like a man, Polycarp.' No one beheld the speaker, but many of us heard the voice.

"When, therefore, he was brought forth, there was a great tumult among those who heard that he was taken. Moreover, the proconsul asked, as he approached, if he were Polycarp?' and when he had assented, he persuaded him to deny (Christ), saying,

6

'Have pity on thine old age,' and such other things as are customary with them; as, Swear by the fortune of Cæsar; repent; say, Away with the godless!' (Christians). Then Polycarp, looking constantly on all the crowd in the amphitheatre, stretching forth his hand towards them, groaning, and looking up to heaven, said, 'Away with the godless!' But when the proconsul pressed him, and said, 'Swear, and I will release thee-reproach Christ;' Polycarp replied, 'Eighty and six years do I serve him, and never hath he injured me; and how can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?' When the proconsul continued to urge him, saying, 'Swear by the fortune of Cæsar;' Polycarp saith, 'Since thou art so vainly urgent that I should swear by the fortune of Cæsar, and feignest not to know what I am, hear me declare it with boldness, I am a Christian. If thou desirest to hear the reasons for our faith, grant me a day, and hear them.' The proconsul said, 'Persuade the people.' Polycarp replied, 'Thee I have thought worthy to hear the reasons for our faith, for we are taught to render unto powers and authorities constituted of God the honour which is fitting, and which is not injurious to us; but for these (people), I have not thought them worthy to hear my defence.' The proconsul said, 'I have wild beasts, and will cast thee unto them, except thou repentest.' replied, Call them; I cannot change from good to evil; it is good to change from sin to righteousness.' The proconsul, 'I will cause thee to be devoured by fire, since thou despisest the beasts, unless thou repentest.' Polycarp, Thou threatenest fire which burneth but for a time and is then extinguished, for thou knowest not the fire of future judgment, and of eternal punishment reserved for the wicked. But why tarriest thou? Bring what thou wilt.' Having said this, and much more, he was filled with

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courage and joy, and his countenance was full of grace; so that not only he failed not with terror at what was said unto him, but the proconsul was amazed, and sent his crier to proclaim thrice in the midst of the amphitheatre, Polycarp has confessed himself a Christian.'

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"When this was proclaimed, all the crowd of Gentiles and Jews at Smyrna cried aloud, with irrepressible fury, This is the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, the destroyer of our gods, who teacheth many not to sacrifice or to worship.' Thus saying, they called out and requested the asiarch Philip to let loose a lion at Polycarp. He said that it was not lawful for him to do so, as the combats of beasts had closed. They then cried out with one accord that Polycarp should be burned alive."

The account proceeds :- "These things were no sooner said than done, the crowd instantly collecting wood and combustibles from the workshops and baths; the Jews, especially, as their manner is, lending their willing assistance. But when the fuel was ready, he laid aside his vesture, and loosing his zone, endeavoured to take off his under-garments. This he had not been accustomed to do, as all the faithful contended who should first touch his skin; for always, even before his old age, he was universally reverenced for his virtue. The materials prepared for the fire were speedily placed around him, and when they would have nailed him to the stake, he said, 'Leave me thus; for He who hath given me power to endure the fire, will grant me also to remain steadfast without your nails;' and they did not do so, but bound him to it. And he, with his hands bound behind him, like a comely ram chosen from the flock to be a whole burnt-offering to God, said, 'Father of thy beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through whom we have received the knowledge of thee; God of

angels, and powers, and of all the creation, and of all the generation of the righteous who live in thy presence; I bless thee, because thou hast thought me worthy of this day and this hour, to take part in the number of thy martyrs, in the cup of Christ, to the resurrection of soul and body in the incorruption of the Holy Spirit, to eternal life. Amongst whom may I be received this day into thy presence as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, as thou hast before ordained and hast now fulfilled, thou, who art without falsehood, the true God, For this, and for all things, I praise thee bless thee I glorify thee; through the eternal gh-priest Jesus Christ, thy beloved Son; through whom beory to thee with him, in the Holy Spirit, both now and unto all ages to come. Amen

30 "When he uttered the amen, and finished his prayer, the executioners lighted the fire; but when a great flame burst forth, we, whom it was permitted

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to behold, and he were that we might relate

it to the rest, beheld a wondrous thing; for the fire, affording the appearance of a vault, like the sail of a ship filled with the wind, surrounded in a circle the body of the martyr; and he was in the midst, not like burning flesh, but like gold and silver in the furnace, and we smelt a savour sweet as incense or some other precious perfumes. The wicked, observing that his body could not be consumed by fire, commanded the executioner to approach and pierce him with a sword, which being done, a great quantity of blood came forth, insomuch that the fire was extinguished, and the crowd marvelled because the difference was so great between unbelievers and the elect, of whom, this our apostolic and prophetic teacher, the bishop of the Catholic Church in Smyrna, was the most admirable in these our times."

The narrative adds, that their enemies endea

voured to prevent the Christians from obtaining the remains of the martyr. They urged the proconsul that his body should not be given, "Lest, forsaking the crucified (Jesus), they should begin to adore this man. And this they said by the suggestion and aid of the Jews, who had watched our endeavours to remove him from the fire, being ignorant that we can never forsake Christ, who suffered for the salvation of those who are saved out of all the world, nor adore any other. For him, as being the Son of God, we worship; but the martyrs, as being disciples and imitators of the Lord, we love as they deserve, on account of their unconquerable love to their King and Master."

In the persecution under the Emperor Antoninus, which occurred about A.D. 178, the Christians in all parts of the world were most sorely tried, and tormented with extreme cruelty. A most interesting record of the faith and patience of the martyrs at Lyons and Vienne in France, has been preserved to us, in the epistle addressed by the brethren dwelling in those cities to the Churches of Asia and Phrygia; and in which, after describing the beginning of persecution, the insults of the populace, and the imprisonment of the brethren, who had openly confessed that they were Christians, we find the following history:

"Those who were worthy were daily apprehended, filling up their number, so that there were taken up from the two Churches all the best men, and those by whom things here were chiefly kept together. There were also taken up some heathen servants belonging to persons amongst our number, since the governor ordered a public inquisition to be made after us all. And they, by advice of Satan, fearing the tortures which they saw the saints endure, the soldiers urging them on, belied us as holding Thy